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Saturday, November 19, 2022

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Revelation 11:4-12
Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10
Luke 20:27-40

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“badly misled”? (mk 12:24)

“Moses in the passage about the bush showed that the dead rise again...” —Luke 20:37

It is possible to read Scripture for years and completely miss what the Word of God is saying. The Sadducees, who attempted to trap Jesus in today’s Gospel passage, were a strict sect of Judaism which accepted only the first five books of the Scriptures, called the Pentateuch. The Sadducees also “claim there is no resurrection” (Lk 20:27). Jesus in His wisdom used a Scripture passage from the few books the Sadducees did accept (Ex 3:6) to show that there is a resurrection (Lk 20:37).

The Sadducees, who had spent their lives reading the Pentateuch, never noticed this connection to eternal life and resurrection. So they steadfastly maintained that there was no resurrection. The Sadducees put their religious ideas first and attempted to make the Scriptures support their ideas. Jesus therefore told the Sadducees: “You are badly misled, because you fail to understand the Scriptures or the power of God...You are very much mistaken” (Mk 12:24, 27).

If we honestly seek the Lord, Jesus will open our minds to the understanding of the Scriptures (Lk 24:45). Are we open to God’s Word? Or do our ideas come first, and we thus pick and choose Bible verses to support them? If so, we may be in danger of being “badly misled” (Mk 12:24). Let the Living Word (Heb 4:12-13) speak to you. Allow God’s Word to form your mind.

Prayer:  Father, transform me through the renewal of my mind (Rm 12:2). Each day, give me open, obedient ears to hear and understand Your Word (Ps 40:7).

Promise:  “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.” —Ps 144:1

Praise:  Jack shares the story of his conversion from atheist to Christian minister with nationwide audiences in order to make known the realities of heaven and hell.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript:  In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 3, 2022

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.